Is Checklist #131 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Checklist #131 sells for $51.00 against $3.30 raw: a $47.70 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.50) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.30
- Grade 9.5
- $51.00
- PSA 9
- $46.50
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Oct 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $51.00 | +$22.70 | −$2.30 | −$102 |
| PSA 9 | $46.50 | +$18.20 | −$6.80 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $21.60 | −$6.70 | −$31.70 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $3.30 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $47.63 | −$5.67 |
| 50% | $48.75 | −$4.55 |
| 75% | $49.88 | −$3.42 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Checklist #131 — FAQ
Is Checklist #131 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Checklist #131 sells for $51.00 against $3.30 raw: a $47.70 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.50) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
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